Current Team Members
Yongjie Yang
Professor of Neuroscience
BA, Marine Biology, Ocean University of China
MS, Genetics, Ocean University of China
PhD, Neuroscience, Iowa State University
Postdoctoral Training, Johns Hopkins University
Yongjie.Yang@tufts.edu
Marcela Bertolio
Post-Doctoral Scholar
PhD, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, National University of San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Marcela.Bertolio@tufts.edu
Astroglia plays active and diverse roles in modulating neuronal/synaptic functions in the CNS. How these astroglial functions are regulated, especially by neuronal signals, remains largely unknown. My research focus on investigating the exosome RNA and non-exosome RNA-mediated neuron to astroglial communication mechanisms and how alteration of these mechanisms may contribute to neurological diseases.
Xuan Chen
Post-Doctoral Scholar
MD, PhD, Neurology, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, China
Xuan.Chen@tufts.edu
After graduation from Medical College, I practiced as a neurologist at clinic for 5 years. To fulfill my curiosity in the mystic brain network, I switched my interests from clinic to neuroscience. I’m fascinated by the smart soldiers—Microglia and their multifaceted roles in maintaining the homeostasis or triggering the disease progression in the brain. My research mainly focuses on understanding the signal transmission via exosomes between microglia and other neural cells of the brain in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
Kathryn Reynolds
Post-Doctoral Scholar
BSc, Biomedical Science, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, Canada
MSc, Molecular and Cellular Biology (Collaborative Neuroscience Specialization), University of Guelph, Guelph ON, Canada
PhD, Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, Canada
Kathryn.Reynolds@tufts.edu
I received my PhD in Neuroscience from McMaster University in 2021, where I studied astrocyte purinergic signalling in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). I am continuing my FXS research in the Yang lab by investigating developmental Fmr1 isoform-specific regulation of translation and behaviour, as well as astroglial-specific changes in microRNA levels. Outside of the lab, you’re most likely to find me exploring New England with my camera.
Caroline Reynolds
Neuroscience Ph.D. Student
BS, Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Caroline.Reynolds@tufts.edu
After studying Biology, Public Health and Sustainability at GW, I worked as a Research Assistant at UTHealth Science Center Houston and next as a Lab Technician at Cleveland Clinic. I am currently completing my PhD in Neuroscience in Dr. Yang’s lab at Tufts University. Here, I am investigating how astrocytic exosomes are able to efflux from the brain and enter the periphery’s circulation as well as determining how these vesicles are able to stimulate the peripheral immune system, and how these pathways are altered in late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease animal models.
Jon Hacker
Neuroscience Ph.D. Student
BA, Neuroscience, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
Jonathan.Hacker@tufts.edu
Jon started his Ph.D. work in the Yang Lab in the spring of 2023. He is interested in the mechanisms of exosome biogenesis within the CNS and uncovering defects in exosome production in the context of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. After working in neuroscience and immunology laboratories, he is interested in uniting the fields during his thesis work.
Jingwen Hu
Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Ph.D. Student
B Eng, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
MS in Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA
Jingwen.Hu@tufts.edu
Glial cells are essential for maintaining brain function, playing important roles in regulating synaptic activity, supporting neurons. miR-124 which is a highly conserved and brain-enriched microRNA is not only critical for neuronal differentiation but also serves as a key component of neuronal-glial communication, influencing how these two cell types interact and function together. While miR-124’s role in neurons is well established, its influence on glial development remains underexplored. My thesis project focuses on uncovering how miR-124 regulates function of glial cells. By combining molecular techniques and morphological analyses, I aim to elucidate miR-124’s role in shaping glial cells during development and how its dysregulation may contribute to disorders like FXS. This research will advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving neuronal-glial interactions and could open the door to novel therapeutic approaches for glial-related diseases.
Ashley Kim
Research Technician
BS, Neuroscience, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
Ashley.kim684527@tufts.edu
Ashley graduated in May 2025 after studying Neuroscience and Statistics at Muhlenberg College. She plans on attending graduate school for neuroscience in the future.
James Kwak
Tufts Undergraduate Student
Majors: Biology and Biotechnology
James.kwak@tufts.edu
James began working in the Yang Lab with Caroline Reynolds in May of 2025, contributing to a project investigating how astrocytic exosomes exit the brain and enter peripheral circulation, and how these mechanisms are disrupted in animal models of late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. James volunteers at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Chemotherapy Infusion Unit, where he supports patient care and gains clinical experience. He is on the pre-med track and plans to apply to MD programs. Outside of the lab, he enjoys listening to music, playing the guitar, and playing basketball.
Anika Sen
Bowdoin Undergraduate Student
Majors: Neuroscience and Philosophy
Minor: Chemistry
Asen@bowdoin.edu
Anika began working in the Yang Lab with Kathryn Reynolds in June of 2025, contributing to a project investigating developmental Fmr1 isoform-specific regulation of hippocampal and cortical neuron morphology. She is on the pre-med track, keen on pursuing clinical research, and plans to apply to MD/PhD programs. Outside of the lab, she enjoys dancing and reading.